American Dream: Why Do People Live Where They Live?

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Why People Live Where They Live To what extent would one go for their American Dream? The American Dream, according to google dictionary, is the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. The early pioneers migrated to Michigan in hopes to obtain the idea known as the American Dream. Many factors are dealt with in order to achieve this, however, six factors stood out among the rest; hardships, family size and origin, land purchases, methods of migration, michigan fever, and daily life. First of the six is hardships. It was risky coming to Michigan because it was almost an all or nothing trip. They would pack everything they had, and what …show more content…

There were three common routes to Michigan; through Canada, through Ohio(before the canal), and the Erie Canal. Many people migrated over land through walking and/or horseback. The difficulty with this method was that it was a long and very tiring journey and they had to worry for thieves. There were many thieves on the trails, if there even were trails, along with that they had to deal with wild animals on the land. In My Husband is Seized with the Mania provided an understanding by saying, “... they took the Ohio route, and were nearly a month getting through” (Ellet pg:1). This shows how long and miserable the journey was. Another way of travel was through steamboat on the canal, the problem with this method was thieves as well, and many other people on the boat and disease. Many people got sick on the boat and did not have the medical attention they seeking resulting in many fatalities. Michigan fever is known as an orchestrated land rush making it a factor. Since Michigan was a new land, and had a lot of land for that matter, many people wanted to see what was in store. It was a huge land rush, and an opportunity for a fresh start for many. Michigan’s First Family Farms talked about Michigan fever vividly with evidence, “They were one of thousands of families who settled in Michigan during that time…” (pg: 8). Many people traveled to Michigan at the same time because of the new land and a fresh start, hence the phrase, Michigan

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